(212) 751-3036

25 E 63rd St (nr. Madison Ave.)
New York, NY 10021 40.7661 -73.9695

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Neighborhoods: Upper East Side, Midtown, Lenox Hill

Years in business

Established in 1985

Hours:

Daily 12pm-11pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 4.11.12

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Lunch Spot, Special Occasion Dining

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

French

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Le Bilboquet

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Though the name refers to a 16th century children's game, the atmosphere at this bistro is decidedly grown-up. Beyond the green awning and floor-to-ceiling windows, sophisticated (and often European) patrons drink wine from the bar in back and dine on French fare like nicoise salad, foie gras, and steak tartare at tightly packed tables. Brightly painted canvases on the walls and large floral bouquets offset the prim white tablecloths.

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
The restaurant gets especially crowded on weekends, so be prepared to wait outside.
ambiance
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. “Rude Rude Service and Terrible atmosphere”
  2. “have been there for both a quiet romantic dinner as well as late night dancing with all the tables cleared out (and mind you this was a Tuesday night!)”
  3. “The food is good, the service outstanding and the ambiance.”
  4. “The food was exceptional (especially the Cajun Chicken), the service was impeccable and the atmosphere was fun and lively.”
  5. “This place used to be a quaint little restaurant that you could enjoy great food, good wine and a modern yet comforatble atmosphere.”
  6. “Good Cajun chicken, fun place, attitude of all kind but you either like or hate it.”
  7. “Great date place, excellent food, friendly staff and great ambiance.”
  8. “It's a very fun Euro scene.”
  9. “and nice service in a nice ambience but why tables are too near and little and how is it possible to pay "coat check" in a restaurant?”
drinks
50.0% positive
  1. “This place used to be a quaint little restaurant that you could enjoy great food, good wine and a modern yet comforatble atmosphere.”
  2. “know that some NYers like this scene, but when combined with a rude waiter, the worst bottle of wine I have ever had, overwhelming 70's disco music before 10 and someone who kept fidgeting with the lighting, you have the most ridiculous waste of good mo”
  3. “Good people but don't expect a value place as you will definitely order an high priced bottle of wine!”
  4. “We ordered a full three courses, including bottles of wine, spent almost $300.”
  5. “overpriced food (I chose a goats cheese salad - the cheese was dry and overdone, and the salad over-dressed), perpetually harassed to move more quickly - check presented before we had even had a chance to ask for coffee.”
food quality
87.5% positive
  1. “The food is wwwwaaaaayyyyyyy too expensive for what it is (and I know food, believe me!)”
  2. “Best steak tartare in town.”
  3. “Best dish: Cajun chicken.”
  4. “Nice place, good food & service but.”
  5. “The food was excellent as well and nice crowd.”
  6. “The tuna tartare is by far the best in the city and the cajun chicken is my favorite chicken dish.”
  7. “We went across the street to Nello's and had an amazing meal.”
  8. “Some things to consider - Don't come here unless you are interested in loud music, great food and heavy drinking.”
  9. “This place used to be a quaint little restaurant that you could enjoy great food, good wine and a modern yet comforatble atmosphere.”
  10. “Good food (steak tartare awsome!)”
  11. “Patrons (us included) go there for a good time, consistently lush and delicious French bistro food, and simply being.”
  12. “when we finally sat down the food and waiter were excellent”
  13. “The food was exceptional (especially the Cajun Chicken), the service was impeccable and the atmosphere was fun and lively.”
  14. “Great date place, excellent food, friendly staff and great ambiance.”
  15. “Good Cajun chicken, fun place, attitude of all kind but you either like or hate it.”
  16. “good food but poor service”
  17. “the food is great though!”
  18. “The food still remains quite unique despite all the above.”
  19. “good food, terrible maitre d”
  20. “The food is good, the service outstanding and the ambiance.”
  21. “It's so unfortunate, because the food is of high quality and the french staff is quite charming.”
  22. “Great food & good service.”
  23. “However, if you want to have a great meal and a rowdy Saturday - you really need to check it out.”
  24. “overpriced food (I chose a goats cheese salad - the cheese was dry and overdone, and the salad over-dressed), perpetually harassed to move more quickly - check presented before we had even had a chance to ask for coffee.”
menu variety
0.0% positive
  1. “What once was a trendy restaurant is now an empty 15 table restaurant with rude service and an ok menu.”
  2. “Since it was one of the least expensive bottle on the menu ($60) the waitress looked at us as if we were pennyless people.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “and nice service in a nice ambience but why tables are too near and little and how is it possible to pay "coat check" in a restaurant?”
service
60.229997634887695% positive
  1. “RUDE RUDE service - rushed us through our dinner!”
  2. “Since it was one of the least expensive bottle on the menu ($60) the waitress looked at us as if we were pennyless people.”
  3. “waiter was personable and helpful, otherwise, fairly disappointing.”
  4. “The staff is rude, the service lousy, music loud, and crowd obnoxious.”
  5. “Always find the staff very friendly and accommodating even when they are extremely busy-as they usually are.”
  6. “The service is terrible (the waiter is only here to take your order and give you the check).”
  7. “know that some NYers like this scene, but when combined with a rude waiter, the worst bottle of wine I have ever had, overwhelming 70's disco music before 10 and someone who kept fidgeting with the lighting, you have the most ridiculous waste of good mo”
  8. “The maitre'd was very nice and waitress is very friendly, she even gave us free champagne!”
  9. “The food is good, the service outstanding and the ambiance.”
  10. “Even the people around us were so shocked by what he was saying and his terrible attitude.”
  11. “Great food & good service.”
  12. “What once was a trendy restaurant is now an empty 15 table restaurant with rude service and an ok menu.”
  13. “Good people but don't expect a value place as you will definitely order an high priced bottle of wine!”
  14. “The loud music and people "flickering the lights" are all part of what makes this place a unique spot in NYC.”
  15. “when we finally sat down the food and waiter were excellent”
  16. “It's so unfortunate, because the food is of high quality and the french staff is quite charming.”
  17. “Great date place, excellent food, friendly staff and great ambiance.”
  18. “Unless you are willing to endure the aboslute LOUDEST most annoying euro-trash music you've ever encountered, super slow service, and shouting matches to order a diet coke in an ill-designed extra crowded space.”
  19. “The food was exceptional (especially the Cajun Chicken), the service was impeccable and the atmosphere was fun and lively.”
  20. “and nice service in a nice ambience but why tables are too near and little and how is it possible to pay "coat check" in a restaurant?”
  21. “good food but poor service”
  22. “Nice place, good food & service but.”
value
21.429998874664307% positive
  1. “Since it was one of the least expensive bottle on the menu ($60) the waitress looked at us as if we were pennyless people.”
  2. “overpriced food (I chose a goats cheese salad - the cheese was dry and overdone, and the salad over-dressed), perpetually harassed to move more quickly - check presented before we had even had a chance to ask for coffee.”
  3. “The food is wwwwaaaaayyyyyyy too expensive for what it is (and I know food, believe me!)”
  4. “Service is bad, the price is too high for the fare and the music too loud.”
  5. “know that some NYers like this scene, but when combined with a rude waiter, the worst bottle of wine I have ever had, overwhelming 70's disco music before 10 and someone who kept fidgeting with the lighting, you have the most ridiculous waste of good mo”
  6. “Its a fairly expensive, European style place.”
  7. “Good people but don't expect a value place as you will definitely order an high priced bottle of wine!”
wait time
25.0% positive
  1. “Unless you are willing to endure the aboslute LOUDEST most annoying euro-trash music you've ever encountered, super slow service, and shouting matches to order a diet coke in an ill-designed extra crowded space.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/15/11

they thing they are good

by catty21

Three years ago I used to like that place, it was a little snobiest but the food and the service was still good. Today , it turns out to be a very unpleasant experience. Terrible! Today, the maitre party with their friends ... If you are not one of them forget it, try another good restaurant over the counter, they wouldn't mind, and we can definately have better food. We don't need to spend your money in a snooby little place, like this one. Sorry they still thing ther are good .... it used to have good food.

1 Star Rating: Poor

11/06/10

not a restaurant....

by abbyfink

This is not really a restaurant...it is a private club....they do not let you in if you are not a regular...they should be sued for discrimination...they do not take reservations..except from regulars...and even when they are empty if they don't know you or like the way you look you are very rudely told that they are booked....the attitude is unbelievable....they should be shut down or made to adhere to the rules for private clubs....New York is better than that....

1 Star Rating: Poor

08/11/09

Worse restaurant in town

by Lapa23

Went for late lunch this weekend and it was empty, however the hostess and the waiter had the nerve to "serve us" from the bar while reading the paper.....as if they weren't affected by a recession or a new and better French restaurant in the meat packing district. What once was a trendy restaurant is now an empty 15 table restaurant with rude service and an ok menu. We did not stay, of course, nor we intend to ever return.

  • Cons: Horrible service and empty
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/24/08

Best Brunch in NYC

by AdamRaper

I have been going to Bilbo for about 9 years now - essentially everytime I'm in New York. It is such a great spot. Some things to consider - Don't come here unless you are interested in loud music, great food and heavy drinking. Its really not a place to bring your grandmother. However, if you want to have a great meal and a rowdy Saturday - you really need to check it out. It's one of those places that you can go for lunch and stay for dinner. A six hour meal is not uncommon. Its a fairly expensive, European style place. The Cajun Chicken is the best thing on the menu, hands down. Don't even try anything else. Order that, a bottle of Sancerre and get ready to have fun.

  • Pros: Super fun, great music, delicious food and a no-rules type management attitude
  • Cons: Takes a while to get seated
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/31/08

IS EVERYONE DEAF??????

by sensiblediner

AVOID THE BILBOQUET (at least) ON WEEKENDS!!! Unless you are willing to endure the aboslute LOUDEST most annoying euro-trash music you've ever encountered, super slow service, and shouting matches to order a diet coke in an ill-designed extra crowded space. You'd rather find yourself another brunch-lunch place.

Food is only so-so, tasty, mostly ordinary quite pricey for its quality and originality.

Honestly, not worth it at all. Maybe on a weekday you may have a less painful experience, who knows, maybe your waitress can even get your order right on the first try.

  • Pros: GOOD LOCATION
  • Cons: THE REST

The Details on Le Bilboquet

Place Categories:

  • good great food
  • rude service
  • lively atmosphere
  • unfortunate french staff
  • great place
  • rude waiter
  • great meal
  • never bad dining experience
  • worst bottle
  • overpriced food
  • consistently lush french bistro food
  • unique spot
  • favorite chicken dish
  • enjoy good wine
  • great rowdy
  • very nice maitre
  • very fun euro scene
  • rude staff
  • full courses
  • rude ok menu
  • best steak
  • like nyers
  • enjoy club music
  • shocked people
  • definitely order priced bottle
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